Ecology of deep-sea hydrothermal vent communities: A review
- Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ (United States)
The present article reviews studies of the past 15 years of active and inactive hydrothermal vents. The focus of the discussion is on the ecology of the biological communities inhabiting hydrothermal vents. These communities exhibit high densities and biomass, low species diversity, rapid growth rates, and high metabolic rates. The authors attempt to relate the biology of hydrothermal vent systems to geology. Future directions for hydrothermal vent research are suggested. Since many vent populations are dependent on hydrothermal fluids and are consequently unstable, both short- and long-term aspects of the ecology of the vent organisms and the influence of chemical and geological factors on the biology of vent systems need to be established. 200 refs., 28 figs.
- OSTI ID:
- 5815304
- Journal Information:
- Reviews of Geophysics (1985); (United States), Vol. 31:3; ISSN 8755-1209
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
58 GEOSCIENCES
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
OCEANIC CRUST
VENTS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BENTHOS
BIOMASS
ECOLOGY
GEOLOGY
GEOPHYSICS
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
OCEANOGRAPHY
REVIEWS
SPECIES DIVERSITY
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
DOCUMENT TYPES
EARTH CRUST
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
540310* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (1990-)
580000 - Geosciences
150200 - Geology & Hydrology of Geothermal Systems